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Sir Nigel Rudd, DL, to step down as Loughborough University Chancellor

Sir Nigel Rudd

After five years’ service as Loughborough University Chancellor Sir Nigel Rudd, DL, has announced that he will be stepping down.

Sir Nigel, Loughborough’s fifth Chancellor, has been a great asset to the University since his appointment in July 2010.

He brought with him a wealth of experience from the world of business following a hugely successful career. In 1982 he founded Williams Holdings plc, one of the largest industrial holding companies in the UK, until its demerger in November 2000, creating Chubb plc and Kidde plc.

Sir Nigel is Chairman of Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited, BBA Aviation plc, Meggitt PLC and Aquarius Platinum Limited. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Sappi Limited. In February 2011 he became Chairman of a new £2.5 billion Business Growth Fund set up to invest in and partner hundreds of UK companies that need long term capital to achieve growth.

Speaking about his time at Loughborough, University Vice Chancellor Professor Robert Allison said: “We are incredibly grateful for Sir Nigel’s support over the last five years. The University has benefited enormously from his vast experience in business and industry and we all wish him well for the future.”

Sir Nigel added: “It has been an honour and pleasure to have been the Chancellor of this great University. I will always have great memories of my time at Loughborough and the wonderful people that I have met. I hope that my successor enjoys the position as much as I have.”

The Chancellor is the Chief Ambassador of the University and presides over ceremonial functions including acting as Chairman of University Court. The Chancellor also confers degrees on graduates of the University.

It is hoped a new Chancellor for the University will be appointed in the next academic year.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 15/148

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.